Study: Autologous Blood Injections for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is most commonly treated with natural remedies like rest, stretching, and the use of orthotic, or medical treatments like ultrasound therapy or ESWT. A recent study published by the Lady Reading Hospital and Pak International Medical College found that autologous blood injections may also be a very effective treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Blood Injections For Heel Pain

The study consisted of 150 participants who rated their heel pain at a 3 out of 10 or higher. Participants were excluded if they had:

Used steroid injections in the past

Foot surgery

Fracture dislocation

Diabetes

Skin infections on the feet

Most patients had been experiencing plantar fasciitis pain for 12-15 weeks prior to the study, and some had struggled for 20 weeks or longer.

Pain was measured prior to treatment, and the benefit and purpose of the study was explained to the patients. Doctors extracted 2ml of blood from the cubital vein in the arm, and the blood was mixed with 1ml of 1% lignocaine. This blood mixture was injected into the medial side of the heel, and patients were instructed to rest from stretching and exercise for 48 hours following the procedure. Pain was measured again after 6, 12, and 24 weeks.

Most patients in this study experienced drastic improvements in their plantar fasciitis pain. Prior to treatment, 100% of patients reported having moderate to severe pain, and following the treatment 63.32% of patients reported no pain at all, and only 7.9% reported moderate to severe pain.